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US4639099A - Optical instrument - Google Patents

Optical instrument Download PDF

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Publication number
US4639099A
US4639099A US06/775,248 US77524885A US4639099A US 4639099 A US4639099 A US 4639099A US 77524885 A US77524885 A US 77524885A US 4639099 A US4639099 A US 4639099A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
eyepiece
image intensifier
intensifier tube
eyepiece lens
assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US06/775,248
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kazuto Tanaka
Haruo Kakizawa
Kouichi Nagata
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fujinon Corp
Original Assignee
Fuji Photo Optical Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fuji Photo Optical Co Ltd filed Critical Fuji Photo Optical Co Ltd
Assigned to FUJI PHOTO OPTICAL CO., LTD. reassignment FUJI PHOTO OPTICAL CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: KAKIZAWA, HARUO, NAGATA, KOUICHI, TANAKA, KAZUTO
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US4639099A publication Critical patent/US4639099A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B23/00—Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an optical instrument such as a telescope, a binoculars or the like, and more particularly to such an optical instrument for enabling the user to visually observe objects in a dark field which have small luminance that could not be perceived directly by the human eye.
  • an image intensifier tube in an optical instrument such as a telescope or a binoculars for the purpose of enabling people to visually observe dark objects which could not be perceived directly by the human eye in darkness.
  • an optical instrument cannot be used in bright light since the image intensifier would be damaged by the intense light impinging thereon.
  • the utility of the optical instrument is poor as it can only be used in the dark.
  • an optical instrument including an eyepiece lens unit detachably mounted on an eyepiece mount supported on a casing and comprising an eyepiece lens assembly including an eyepiece lens and an image intensifier tube assembly separably coupled to the eyepiece lens assembly.
  • the image intensifier tube assembly includes an image intensifier tube having a light-sensitive surface lying at the focal plane of the objective lens and a phosphor screen lying at the focal point of the eyepiece lens.
  • the eyepiece lens assembly has a first means for separably coupling the eyepiece lens assembly to the eyepiece mount without the image intensifier tube assembly disposed therebetween, and the image intensifier tube assembly has a second means for separably coupling the image intensifier tube assembly to the eyepiece mount with the eyepiece lens assembly attached to the image intensifier tube assembly.
  • the first and second means are relatively positioned so that when the eyepiece lens assembly is coupled directly to the eyepiece mount without the image intensifier tube assembly disposed therebetween, the focal point of the eyepiece lens coincides with the focal plane of the objective lens.
  • the eyepiece lens unit with the eyepiece lens assembly and the image intensifier tube assembly coupled together is attached to the eyepiece mount.
  • the image intensifier tube assembly is detached from the eyepiece lens assembly, and the eyepiece lens assembly is attached directly to the lens mount.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical instrument according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of an eyepiece lens unit in the optical instrument shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an eyepiece mount in the optical instrument of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 1 shows an optical instrument according to the present invention.
  • the optical instrument is in the form of a binoculars including a pair of independent telescopic systems each having a pair of objective and eyepiece lenses 2, 3.
  • the telescopic systems also include a pair of respective erecting prisms (not shown) each disposed between one pair of the objective and eyepiece lenses 2, 3 and having aligned optical axes for incident and exit light rays.
  • the binocular 1 has a casing 4 in which the erecting prisms are swingably supported by a gimbal suspension device having a gyro motor.
  • Each of the eyepiece lenses 3, 3 is incorporated in an eyepiece lens unit including an image intensifier tube (described later) for enabling the user to observe dark objects through the binocular 1.
  • the eyepiece lenses 3, 3 are removably mounted on the casing 4.
  • a battery case 5 is detachably coupled by a fastener 6 to the casing 4 and accommodates a battery (not shown) for energizing the gyro motor and the image intensifier tubes.
  • the battery case 5 supports thereon an on/off switch 7 for supplying electric power from the battery to the gyro motor and the image intensifier tubes. When the on/off switch 7 is turned on, the gyro motor starts rotating and the image intensifier tubes are energized.
  • FIG. 2 shows one of the eyepiece lens units which are of identical constructions.
  • the eyepiece lens unit generally denoted at 10 in FIG. 2, includes an eyepiece lens assembly 11 comprising a tubular body 12 having a plurality (three, for example) of circumferentially spaced bayonets 12', and a lens barrel 13 threaded in the tubular body 12 and holding an eyepiece lens system 13' comprising a group of lenses, which are collectively denoted by the reference numeral 3 in FIG. 1.
  • the eyepiece lens unit 10 also includes an image intensifier tube assembly 14 composed of a first bayonet tubular body 15 having a plurality (three, for example) of circumferentially spaced bayonets 15' on its outer circumferential surface, an outer tubular body 16 threaded over an externally threaded end of the first bayonet tubular body 15, and an inner ring body 17 threaded in an internally threaded end of the first bayonet tubular body 15.
  • the outer tubular body 16, the inner ring body 17, and the tubular body 15 jointly constitute a tubular housing which accommodates the image intensifier tube, indicated at 20.
  • the image intensifier tube assembly 14 also has a second bayonet tubular body 18 threaded over the outer tubular body 16 and having a plurality (three, for example) of bayonets 18' engaging with the bayonets 15' of the first bayonet tubular body 15, and a protective ring 19 threaded over an externally threaded portion of the inner ring body 17.
  • Two adjacent terminals 21 coupled to the image intensifier tube 20 are mounted on the inner ring body 17 for connection to a battery in the battery case 5, the terminals 21 being located within holes defined in the protecting ring 19.
  • the image intensifier tube 20 is of a known construction having a light-sensitive surface 20' for forming an image thereon and a phosphor screen 22 for producing a visual image in response to a photoelectron pattern produced by the light-sensitive surface 20'.
  • the image intensifier tube 20 as disposed in the tubular housing is positionally adjustable in the direction of the optical axis by the outer tubular body 16 and the inner ring body 17 so that the light-sensitive surface 20' coincides with the focal plane of the objective lens 2 in the same telescopic system.
  • the eyepiece lens assembly 11 is also positionally adjustable in the direction of the optical axis by the tubular body 12 and the lens barrel 13 so that the focal point of the eyepiece lens system 13' coincides with the phosphor screen 22 of the image intensifier tube 20.
  • the axial distance between the bayonets 12' of the eyepiece lens assembly 11 and the bayonets 15' of the image intensifier tube 14 is adjusted to be equal to the distance between the light-sensitive surface 20' and the phosphor screen 22 of the image intensifier tube 20.
  • FIG. 3 shows an eyepiece mount 8 by which the eyepiece lens assembly 11 as separated from the image intensifier tube assembly 14 or the eyepiece lens unit 10 is mounted on the casing 4.
  • the eyepiece mount 8 is disposed substantially entirely in the casing 4 except for a plurality (three, for example) of bayonets 24 on one axial end thereof.
  • the eyepiece mount 8 comprises a tubular housing 23 having the bayonets 24 on its one axial end, the bayonets 24 being engageable selectively with the bayonets 12' of the eyepiece lens assembly 11 or the bayonets 15' of the image intensifier tube assembly 14.
  • the tubular housing 23 includes a housing bottom 23' on which there is supported a pair of terminals 25 (only one shown) each having a round end normally urged to move slightly into the tubular housing 23 by a leaf spring 26 attached to the housing bottom 23'.
  • the terminals 25 are positioned for electric contact with the respective terminals 21 (FIG. 2) disposed in the protective ring 19.
  • the terminals 25 are connected by wires 27 to the battery in the battery case 5.
  • the eyepiece lens units 10 When the user wants to use the binoculars 1 to see an object in the dark, the eyepiece lens units 10 are positioned partly in the eyepiece mounts 8 and fixed thereto by interengagement between the bayonets 15', 24. At this time, the terminals 21, 25 are electrically coupled to connect the image intensifier tubes 20 to the battery, and the telescopic systems are optically set up. Now, an image of the object entering through the objective lenses 2 is brightened by the image intensifier tubes 20 and such an intensified image can be seen by the user through the eyepiece lens assemblies 11.
  • the eyepiece lens units 10 are detached from the eyepiece mounts 8, and then the bayonets 12', 18' are separated from each other to disconnect the eyepiece lens assemblies 11 from the image intensifier tube assemblies 14. Then, the eyepiece lens assemblies 11 are joined to the eyepiece mounts 8 by the bayonets 12', 24. Since the distance between the bayonets 15', 18' is equal to the distance between the light-sensitive surface 20' and the phosphor screen 22 of the image intensifier tube 20, the focal point of the eyepiece lens system 13' coincides with the focal plane of the corresponding objective lens 2.
  • the bottom (shown on the righthand side in FIG. 2) of the tubular body 12 is spaced a large distance from the round ends of the terminals 25 which slightly project into the body of the tubular housing 23. Therefore, the battery is prevented from being short-circuited.
  • the binoculars 1 can be used to enable the user to see objects in both dark and bright places simply by selectively using the image intensifier tube assembly 14.
  • the eyepiece lens assembly 11 and the image intensifier tube assembly 14 may be fixedly coupled together so that the eyepiece lens unit 10 will be employed as a permanently unitary device to be attached to the casing 4, and another eyepiece lens assembly 11 may be used for direct attachment to the casing 4.
  • the bayonets in the foregoing embodiment may be replaced with other mounting means such as threaded coupling structures.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Astronomy & Astrophysics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Telescopes (AREA)
US06/775,248 1984-10-06 1985-09-12 Optical instrument Expired - Lifetime US4639099A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP59210096A JPS6188215A (ja) 1984-10-06 1984-10-06 光学装置
JP59-210096 1984-10-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4639099A true US4639099A (en) 1987-01-27

Family

ID=16583745

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US06/775,248 Expired - Lifetime US4639099A (en) 1984-10-06 1985-09-12 Optical instrument

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US4639099A (ja)
JP (1) JPS6188215A (ja)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1038533C (zh) * 1992-06-18 1998-05-27 株式会社尼康 双眼望远镜的视度校正机构
WO2004083931A1 (de) * 2003-03-20 2004-09-30 Hensoldt Ag Nachtsichtgerät, umfassend ein obejktiv, eine bildverstärkerröhre, ein umkehrsystem und ein okular
US20100128135A1 (en) * 2000-09-15 2010-05-27 Night Vision Corporation Modular night vision goggles with pellicle
US20100177201A1 (en) * 2000-09-15 2010-07-15 Night Vision Corporation Expandable night vision goggles

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6411217A (en) * 1987-07-06 1989-01-13 Sokkisha Surveying machine with telescope for dark place
JPH055528Y2 (ja) * 1987-12-10 1993-02-15

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2946255A (en) * 1955-06-02 1960-07-26 Siemens Ag Albis Combined day and night viewing device
US2953970A (en) * 1957-09-26 1960-09-27 Indiana General Corp Mount for optical system component
US4420239A (en) * 1981-05-01 1983-12-13 Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Exchange mount with data transmitting electrical contacts

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS55164613U (ja) * 1979-05-15 1980-11-26

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2946255A (en) * 1955-06-02 1960-07-26 Siemens Ag Albis Combined day and night viewing device
US2953970A (en) * 1957-09-26 1960-09-27 Indiana General Corp Mount for optical system component
US4420239A (en) * 1981-05-01 1983-12-13 Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Exchange mount with data transmitting electrical contacts

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1038533C (zh) * 1992-06-18 1998-05-27 株式会社尼康 双眼望远镜的视度校正机构
US20100128135A1 (en) * 2000-09-15 2010-05-27 Night Vision Corporation Modular night vision goggles with pellicle
US20100177201A1 (en) * 2000-09-15 2010-07-15 Night Vision Corporation Expandable night vision goggles
US8269159B2 (en) 2000-09-15 2012-09-18 Night Vision Corporation Modular panoramic night vision goggles having configurable attachments
US8431881B2 (en) 2000-09-15 2013-04-30 Kollsman, Inc. Night vision goggles with pellicle
WO2004083931A1 (de) * 2003-03-20 2004-09-30 Hensoldt Ag Nachtsichtgerät, umfassend ein obejktiv, eine bildverstärkerröhre, ein umkehrsystem und ein okular

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS6188215A (ja) 1986-05-06
JPH0434127B2 (ja) 1992-06-05

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Owner name: FUJI PHOTO OPTICAL CO., LTD., 1-324 UETAKE-MACHI,

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:TANAKA, KAZUTO;KAKIZAWA, HARUO;NAGATA, KOUICHI;REEL/FRAME:004457/0920

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